Taking Back Charity
Total Hadiths 13
Prophetic Teachings on Not Taking Back or Buying Back Charity
In Islamic traditions, giving charity (Sadaqah) is an act performed solely for the sake of Allah, and once given, it should leave the donor's possession permanently. The provided authentic hadiths outline a strict prophetic ruling on taking back charity once it has been offered. The Prophet Muhammad strongly discouraged believers from reclaiming their donations under any circumstances. In a vivid and clear warning narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas, the Prophet compared someone who takes back their charity to a dog that returns to eat its own vomit, emphasizing how detestable the action is. Furthermore, separate accounts from Umar bin Khattab and Zubair bin Awwam clarify that even if a donor sees their given charity—such as a horse—being sold later at a low price, or even its offspring being sold, they should refrain from purchasing it back. According to Islamic scholars, these instructions ensure that acts of charity remain pure, sincere, and free from worldly regrets or lingering attachments.
وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَابْنُ، رُمْحٍ جَمِيعًا عَنِ اللَّيْثِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا الْمُقَدَّمِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، وَهُوَ الْقَطَّانُ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي ح، وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، كُلُّهُمْ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ، عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ مَالِكٍ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1621bIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3953
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ، بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ حَمَلَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَوَجَدَهُ يُبَاعُ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْتَاعَهُ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَبْتَعْهُ وَلاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
'Umar b. al-Khattib (Allah be pleased with him) donated a horse in the path of Allah and (later on) he found it being sold, and he decided to buy that. He asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it. whereupon he (the Holy prophet) said: Don't buy that and do not get back what you gave in charity.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1621aIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3952
حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، وَعَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِعَبْدٍ - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ، حَمَلَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ رَآهَا تُبَاعُ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَهَا فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ يَا عُمَرُ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
'Umar donated a horse in the path of Allah and then found it being sold, and he decided to buy that. He asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) about it, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Umar, do not get back what you gave as charity.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1621cIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3954
حَدَّثَنَا تَمِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْتَصِرِ الْوَاسِطِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، عَنْ شَرِيكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ يَعْنِي، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ تَصَدَّقَ بِفَرَسٍ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَبْصَرَ صَاحِبَهَا يَبِيعُهَا بِكَسْرٍ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَبْتَعْ صَدَقَتَكَ " .
'Umar Narrated from:
It was narrated from 'Umar, meaning, from his father, his grandfather 'Umar, that : he gave a horse in charity at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then he saw its owner selling it for a low price. He went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him about that, and he said: “Do not buy what you gave in charity.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2392In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 2392
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ قَزَعَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ حَمَلْتُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، فَأَضَاعَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ عِنْدَهُ، فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَشْتَرِيَهُ مِنْهُ، وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ بَائِعُهُ بِرُخْصٍ، فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لاَ تَشْتَرِهِ، وَإِنْ أَعْطَاكَهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَإِنَّ الْعَائِدَ فِي صَدَقَتِهِ كَالْكَلْبِ يَعُودُ فِي قَيْئِهِ ".
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
I gave a horse in Allah's Cause. The person to whom it was given, did not look after it. I intended to buy it from him, thinking that he would sell it cheap. When I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) he said, "Don't buy it, even if he gives it to you for one Dirham, as the person who takes back what he has given in charity, is like a dog that swallows back its vomit."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2623In-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 55USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 47, Hadith 792
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مَالِكًا، يَسْأَلُ زَيْدَ بْنَ أَسْلَمَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ، قَالَ عُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ حَمَلْتُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، فَرَأَيْتُهُ يُبَاعُ، فَسَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " لاَ تَشْتَرِ، وَلاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ ".
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
Once I gave a horse (for riding) in Allah's Cause. Later I saw it being sold. I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (whether I could buy it). He said, "Don't buy it, for you should not get back what you have given in charity."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 2636In-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 68USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 3, Book 47, Hadith 804
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ " .
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Do not take back your charity.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2390In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 1English translation : Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 2390
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ حَمَلْتُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ عَتِيقٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأَضَاعَهُ صَاحِبُهُ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ بَائِعُهُ بِرُخْصٍ فَسَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَبْتَعْهُ وَلاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ فَإِنَّ الْعَائِدَ فِي صَدَقَتِهِ كَالْكَلْبِ يَعُودُ فِي قَيْئِهِ " .
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
I donated a pedigree horse in the path of Allah. Its possessor made it languish. I thought that he would sell it at a cheap price. I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, whereupon he said: Don't buy it and do not get back your charity, for one who gets back the charity is like a dog who swallows its vomit.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1620aIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3949
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَتَصَدَّقُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فِي صَدَقَتِهِ مَثَلُ الْكَلْبِ يَقِيءُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَأْكُلُ قَيْئَهُ " .
`Abdullah bin `Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The likeness of the one who gives charity then takes it back is that of a dog who vomits then goes back and eats its vomit.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2391In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 2English translation : Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 2391
حَدَّثَنِي أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ بِسْطَامَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زُرَيْعٍ - حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْقَاسِمِ - عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ حَمَلَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَوَجَدَهُ عِنْدَ صَاحِبِهِ وَقَدْ أَضَاعَهُ وَكَانَ قَلِيلَ الْمَالِ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَهُ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَشْتَرِهِ وَإِنْ أُعْطِيتَهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ الْعَائِدِ فِي صَدَقَتِهِ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ يَعُودُ فِي قَيْئِهِ " .
Zaid b. Aslam Narrated from:
'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) donated a horse in the path of Allah. He found that it had languished in the hand of its possessor, and he was a man of meagre resources He (Hadrat 'Umar) intended to buy it. He came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and made a mention of that to him, whereupon he said: Don't buy that even if you get it for a dirham for he who gets back the charity is like a dog which swallows its vomit.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1620cIn-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 12, Hadith 3950
